3 Tips to Budget for your Wedding

https://www.bespokehome.co.za/bespokeshop/product/wedding-planner-notebook/ 

One aspect that’s synonymous with weddings is budget. While a celebration of love shouldn’t have a budgetary restriction, we must also be realistic. 

Besides, who wants to start their marriage in debt? No one.

But where there’s a will there’s a way – and there’s always a way to plan a wedding – without spending your life savings. 

While it would be incredible to have a personalised wedding planner, that’s unfortunately not a reality for most of us. 

However, there are a few key things that you should take into consideration before jumping into planning your wedding. 

3 Wedding Budgeting Tips

#1 know your essentials

If there’s one thing that you should take away from this blog it’s this – 

Know the cost of your essentials first. While these may differ from person to person, examples include; venue hire, food, bar, marriage officer, staff, furniture (chairs/tables) and attire. 

So, a good place to start is to talk with your partner and discuss what is important to you for your wedding. Take note of these ‘non-negotiable’ elements in your wedding planner to keep you on track. 

It’s easy to get swept up when planning a wedding. However, if you have a solid foundation of what you’re going to spend your money on, then it’s easy to stay on track. 

One thing that we can recommend is this – The only keepsake that you take away from your wedding (besides the memories) are photos. So, be sure to save some budget for a photographer/videographer to capture the day. 

#2 ask for all the costs

The wedding industry is worth over a billion Rand. So, definitely don’t assume that when you get a quote that all the costs are included.

Be on the lookout for prospective venues and ask for a quote – and be sure to clarify what is included in the cost and compare it with your essentials (furniture, staff, tables, chairs). This helps you set an overall budget in line with your vision. 

Weddings are seasonal

For many places, it’s more affordable to have a wedding in winter (when there’s a lower demand) than in summer (higher demand). So, be sure to compare your top-pick venues with their summer and winter rates. 

This goes for flowers too. If you’ve got your heart set on a specific type of flower, be sure to have your wedding at a time when they’re in bloom.

#3 keep a planner

Remember that episode of Friends where Monica has the HUGE wedding binder? Well, we don’t expect you to go that far, but having a place to keep all of your details and ideas is a must. 

Depending on the size of your wedding, it’s a lot of information to take in – and you’ll most likely be meeting a lot of vendors as well. 

So, we recommend having a digital spreadsheet for budgets and a paper/book planner that you can take with you to your meetings. 

Inside your planner, you can not only keep ideas and inspiration but also your table plan, 

bonus tip | be prepared to compromise

You don’t want to start your new marriage in debt. So, compromise. If something is out of your budget but considered essential, then you have to cut back on something else. 

Opt to buy a wedding dress instead of having a custom one made? Fantastic! 

Forget a vintage car! Go for a trusted friend or family member to drive you. 

Perhaps forgo a seated table plan and have a cocktail/tapas meal instead?

Choose wedding decorations on a budget that you can use in your home after the big day. 

All of these little changes can help you cut costs and save for the things that you really want for your wedding. 

Let’s plan a wedding

Bespoke Home offers a comprehensive wedding planner notebook to help you plan your special day. Everything is carefully laid out to help you plan the perfect day. 

We also offer gift registries and a catalogue of exceptional products for sale. 

Buy your wedding planner today!